Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz was born, 1 February 1950, in Stara Wies, Poland, near Auschwitz. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Krakow on 20 May 1973. He completed his doctorate at the Catholic University of Lublin and began working in the archdiocesan office for religious education. On 14 May 1988, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow and Titular Bishop of Villa Regis. He was ordained Bishop on 4 June 1988. On 9 June 2004, he was appointed Bishop of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg, and on 3 March 2007, Archbishop of Warsaw, where he was installed on 1 April 2007. On 9 June 2007, he was appointed Bishop of Poland for the Faithful of Eastern Rites. He reported to Vatican Radio that the Polish Church’s biggest task was to purify itself of the past (Communist regime) and to devote its energies to preaching the Gospel and helping the poor. He was elevated to Cardinal on 20 November 2010.